Abstract: On August 6, at least 5,000 Chinese workers arrived in Kenya to participate in the country's railway construction project. These Chinese workers will be employed alongside 30,000 local workers for the Mombasa-Nairobi railway project starting in October this year.
BBC, citing Kenya's Business Daily, reported that these foreign workers, mainly from China, will be employed alongside 30,000 local workers for the Mombasa-Nairobi railway project starting in October 2014.
On May 11 this year, Li Keqiang, along with Kenyan President Kenyatta and presidents from five other East African countries, witnessed the signing of the cooperation agreement for the Mombasa-Nairobi railway, involving $3.804 billion.
On May 11, 2014, Premier Li Keqiang and Kenyan President Kenyatta met with journalists at the State House in Nairobi to brief on China-Africa cooperation in building the Mombasa-Nairobi railway
China to Build Kenya's Largest Project
According to 21st Century Business Herald, the Mombasa-Nairobi railway is the largest project since Kenya's independence and the first new railway built in Kenya in a century, and will be built entirely to "Chinese standards."
The main line is 480 kilometers long, single-track, diesel-powered, with a design speed of 120 km/h for passenger trains and 80 km/h for freight trains. The project will be designed and constructed according to China's Class I national railway standards.
Once completed, the railway will reduce travel time from Mombasa to Nairobi from over 10 hours to just over 4 hours, and will ultimately connect Kenya with the landlocked East African countries of Rwanda, Uganda, and South Sudan.
According to the original plan, the project is scheduled for completion in March 2018.
Chinese Companies Mostly Use Their Own Labor
BBC also highlighted the obstacles for Chinese workers going abroad, noting that Chinese companies mostly use Chinese labor, including chefs, for infrastructure projects in Africa, and few Chinese workers integrate into local communities. One of the biggest obstacles is language; Chinese mid-level managers typically do not speak English or French, making it difficult for them to communicate with local employees.
In contrast, Chinese workers do not complain much about harsh working conditions, while local workers may grumble.
Although this practice of hiring one's own people as much as possible may help China expand infrastructure projects in Africa, it can also provoke local resentment.
Although the project will be contracted by China Road and Bridge Corporation, Kenya hopes local companies can secure 40% of the raw material supply contracts. Manu Chandaria, president of Kenya's Comcraft Group, said: "We must strive to maximize the benefits from this project before the Chinese bring everything needed for the railway from China."
Fact + Railway Construction Leads China-Africa Cooperation
On May 4, 2014, Li Keqiang and his wife arrived in Addis Ababa on a special plane, beginning an official visit to Ethiopia and the African Union headquarters.
On May 5, 2014, Li Keqiang (front center) and Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam (front third from right),
and African Union Commission Chairperson Zuma (front second from left) visited the China Railway and Aviation Exhibition held at the AU Conference Center.
On May 11, 2014, Li Keqiang visited the Kenya National Youth Service and had a cordial conversation with its members.
China-Africa railway cooperation has a long history, dating back to the 1960s and 1970s. To support the national liberation cause of southern African countries and break the blockade of apartheid, the Chinese people tightened their belts and aided the construction of the Tanzania-Zambia Railway despite China's own economic challenges. This road of freedom for the African people has become a solid bridge of China-Africa friendship.
Since 2010, China and African countries have signed several railway projects, including the Chad Railway and the Niger Railway. The multiple railway projects China is involved in will strongly promote the construction and improvement of the African continental railway network, become a new engine for African economic development, and advance regional integration in Africa.
Some commentators believe that "railway diplomacy" has become an important focus of Premier Li Keqiang's diplomacy. For a country to develop, transportation infrastructure must be prioritized. Li Keqiang stated that achieving connectivity in East Africa and Africa as a whole will play an important supporting role in the economic development of African countries. The Mombasa-Nairobi railway is a major project for China and Africa to start with sub-regional cooperation and jointly build three major networks: African high-speed railways, highways, and regional aviation. China will strengthen communication and coordination with relevant countries and the African Union, fully leverage the financing role of Chinese and African financial institutions, and welcome third-party institutions from outside the region to actively participate for mutual benefit and win-win results.
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